Image display device and method

ABSTRACT

An image display device that displays image information includes an image retrieving unit that retrieves image information; a device status identifying unit that identifies a status of the present device; an image condition specifying unit that specifies an image condition that indicates a condition which the image information needs to satisfy to be displayed, based on the status identified by the device status identifying unit; and a display unit that displays the image information retrieved by the image retrieving unit if the image information satisfies the image condition specified by the image condition specifying unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image display device and an imagedisplay method for displaying image information, an image generationdevice and an image generation method for generating image information,and a program.

This application is a national stage application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2012/071100 entitled “Image Display Device andMethod, Image Generation Device and Method, and Program,” filed on Aug.21, 2012, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2011-185658, filed Aug. 29, 2011. The contents of both applications areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, electronic imaging devices such as digital cameras have becomepopular, which makes users easily generate image information. Inaddition, such electronic imaging devices have viewer functions by whichusers can browse to obtained image information.

Owing to recent progress in information technology, an amount of datathat can be stored in an internal memory or an external storage mediumof an electronic imaging device has become huge. Accordingly, theelectronic imaging device can hold a large amount of image information.

However, when a large amount of image information is stored in anelectronic imaging device, it may be difficult for a user, who wants tobrowse images, to reach target images.

For such a problem, Patent-Document 1 discloses a technique in whichinformation of each obtained image is associated with locationinformation when the image is obtained, and if a predetermined result isobtained by comparing location information obtained at browsing with thelocation information of the image information, a specific message andthe relevant image information are displayed.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, FirstPublication No. 2007-214906.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, Patent-Document 1 is unclear about how to compare imageinformation items and what obtained result makes a photo to bedisplayed. Additionally, in order for a user to appropriately selectimage information associated with the actual location from among aplurality of target image information items, the user should judgewhether each image information item associates with the actual locationin accordance with the surrounding circumstances or the imageinformation.

In light of the above circumstances, an object of the present inventionis to provide an image display device and an image display method, whichmake it possible to select appropriate image information, as imageinformation to be displayed, from among a plurality of image informationitems, and, an image generation device and an image generation method ofgenerating an image utilized for such selection, and a program.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides animage display device that displays image information, the devicecomprising:

an image retrieving unit that retrieves image information;

a device status identifying unit that identifies a status of the presentdevice;

an image condition specifying unit that specifies an image conditionthat indicates a condition which the image information needs to satisfyto be displayed, based on the status identified by the device statusidentifying unit; and

a display unit that displays the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit if the image information satisfies the imagecondition specified by the image condition specifying unit.

The present invention also provides an image display device thatdisplays image information, the device comprising:

an image retrieving unit that retrieves image information;

a device condition specifying unit that specifies, based on the imageinformation retrieved by the image retrieving unit, a device conditionthat indicates a condition which the present device needs to satisfy todisplay the image information; and

a display unit that displays the image information if a status of thepresent device satisfies the device condition specified by the devicecondition specifying unit.

The present invention also provides an image generation device thatgenerates image information, the device comprising:

an image generation unit that generates image information;

a device status identifying unit that identifies a status of the presentdevice when the image generation unit generated the image information;and

a device condition attaching unit that attaches, based on the statusidentified by the device status identifying unit, a device condition tothe image information generated by the image generation unit, where thedevice condition indicates a condition which a device used to displaythe image condition needs to satisfy to display the image information.

The present invention provides an image display method utilizing animage display device that displays image information, wherein:

an image retrieving unit retrieves image information;

a device status identifying unit identifies a status of the presentdevice;

an image condition specifying unit specifies an image condition thatindicates a condition which the image information needs to satisfy to bedisplayed, based on the status identified by the device statusidentifying unit; and

a display unit displays the image information retrieved by the imageretrieving unit if the image information satisfies the image conditionspecified by the image condition specifying unit.

The present invention provides an image display method utilizing animage display device that displays image information, wherein:

an image retrieving unit retrieves image information;

a device condition specifying unit specifies, based on the imageinformation retrieved by the image retrieving unit, a device conditionthat indicates a condition which the present device needs to satisfy todisplay the image information; and

a display unit that displays the image information if a status of thepresent device satisfies the device condition specified by the devicecondition specifying unit.

The present invention provides an image generation method utilizing animage generation device that generates image information, wherein:

an image generation unit generates image information;

a device status identifying unit identifies a status of the presentdevice when the image generation unit generated the image information;and

a device condition attaching unit attaches, based on the statusidentified by the device status identifying unit, a device condition tothe image information generated by the image generation unit, where thedevice condition indicates a condition which a device used to displaythe image condition needs to satisfy to display the image information.

The present invention provides a program by which an image displaydevice that displays image information functions as:

an image retrieving unit that retrieves image information;

a device status identifying unit that identifies a status of the presentdevice;

an image condition specifying unit that specifies an image conditionthat indicates a condition which the image information needs to satisfyto be displayed, based on the status identified by the device statusidentifying unit; and

a display unit that displays the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit if the image information satisfies the imagecondition specified by the image condition specifying unit.

The present invention provides a program by which an image displaydevice that displays image information functions as:

an image retrieving unit that retrieves image information;

a device condition specifying unit that specifies, based on the imageinformation retrieved by the image retrieving unit, a device conditionthat indicates a condition which the present device needs to satisfy todisplay the image information; and

a display unit that displays the image information if a status of thepresent device satisfies the device condition specified by the devicecondition specifying unit.

The present invention provides a program by which an image generationdevice that generates image information functions as:

an image generation unit that generates image information;

a device status identifying unit that identifies a status of the presentdevice when the image generation unit generated the image information;and

a device condition attaching unit that attaches, based on the statusidentified by the device status identifying unit, a device condition tothe image information generated by the image generation unit, where thedevice condition indicates a condition which a device used to displaythe image condition needs to satisfy to display the image information.

Effect of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, in a relationship between animage display device and image information, the image display devicedisplays the image information if a device condition specified inaccordance with a current status of the present device or an imagecondition included in the image information is satisfied. Accordingly,the image display device can select appropriate image information to bedisplayed, from among a plurality of image information items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general block diagram that shows the structure of a portableterminal in accordance with a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram that shows an image condition defined in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram that shows an image condition defined in a thirdembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a general block diagram that shows the structure of a portableterminal in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart that shows an image obtaining operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a general block diagram that shows the structure of aportable terminal in accordance with a fifth embodiment.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

Below, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detailwith reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a general block diagram that shows the structure of a portableterminal in accordance with a first embodiment.

The portable terminal (i.e., an image display device) of the firstembodiment executes a camera application and a viewer application. Amongimage information items obtained by the camera application, the portableterminal displays, by executing the viewer application, items whichsatisfies a condition that the difference between the location at whichthe relevant image information was generated and the actual (or current)location of the image display device is within a predetermined range.

The portable terminal includes an imaging unit 1 (an image generationunit), an image storage unit 2, a location information obtaining unit 3,an image retrieving unit 4, a device status identifying unit 5, an imagecondition specifying unit 6, a display determination unit 7, and adisplay unit 8.

When a camera application of the portable terminal has been executed,the imaging unit 1 performs an imaging process by means of an opticalsystem (not shown) built in the portable terminal so as to generateimage information. In addition, the imaging unit 1 stores the generatedimage information in the image storage unit 2.

The location information obtaining unit 3 obtains the location of theportable terminal at the time the camera application of the portableterminal was executed, by means of a GPS (Global Positioning System)function. The location information obtaining unit 3 stores the relevantlocation information into the image storage unit 2 in a manner such thatthe location information is associated with the corresponding imageinformation obtained by the imaging unit 1. The location informationobtaining unit 3 also obtains the location of the portable terminal atthe time the viewer application of the portable terminal was executed.

As described above, the image storage unit 2 stores the imageinformation obtained by the imaging unit 1 and the location informationthat indicates a location at which the relevant image information wasobtained.

When the viewer application has been executed, the image retrieving unit4 retrieves image information from the image storage unit 2.

The device status identifying unit 5 identifies, as circumstantialinformation on the portable terminal, whether or not the portableterminal is located indoors or outdoors.

FIG. 2 is a diagram that shows an image condition defined in the firstembodiment.

Based on a circumstantial status identified by the device statusidentifying unit 5, the image condition specifying unit 6 specifies animage condition so as to display the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4, that is, a condition that the image informationneeds to satisfy.

More specifically, as shown in part (A) of FIG. 2, when the portableterminal is located indoors, the image condition specifying unit 6 setsan image condition such that the image information was obtained within acircular range defined by a radius A around the actual location as thecenter of the circle.

On the other hand, as shown in part (B) of FIG. 2, when the portableterminal is located outdoors, the image condition specifying unit 6 setsan image condition such that the image information was obtained within acircular range defined by a radius B (A<B) around the actual location asthe center of the circle.

The display determination unit 7 determines whether or not the locationinformation included in the image information retrieved by the imageretrieving unit 4 and the location information obtained by the locationinformation obtaining unit 3 have a relationship that satisfies theimage condition set by the image condition specifying unit 6. Thedisplay determination unit 7 outputs each image information item thatsatisfies the image condition to the display unit 8.

The display unit 8 displays the image information received from thedisplay determination unit 7 on a display (not shown) of the portableterminal.

Below, an operation of the portable terminal in accordance with thefirst embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the first embodiment.

When the portable terminal executes the viewer application in responseto a user's operation (see step S101), the location informationobtaining unit 3 obtains location information that indicates thelocation of the portable terminal at the current time (see step S102).Next, the device status identifying unit 5 identifies a device statusthat indicates whether or not the portable terminal is located indoorsor outdoors (see step S103).

Below, a method for identifying whether or not the portable terminal islocated indoors or outdoors will be explained.

For example, the device status identifying unit 5 activates the imagingunit 1, and can identify that the portable terminal is located outdoorsif the distance from the portable terminal to a subject, that may becomputed utilizing an autofocusing function of the imaging unit 1, isgreater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. In another example,the device status identifying unit 5 collects peripheral sounds via amicrophone of the portable terminal, and can identify that the portableterminal is located indoors if the collected sounds include an echo. Ina case in which a sound or light wave transmitter and receiver isprovided in the portable terminal, the device status identifying unit 5can identify that the portable terminal is located indoors if a timefrom the transmission to the reception of the sound or light wave signalis within a predetermined value.

The above-described methods are each an example of the method ofidentifying “whether outdoors or indoors”, that can be identified by anyother method.

After identifying the device status by the device status identifyingunit 5 in step S103, the image condition specifying unit 6 refers to thedevice status and determines whether or not the portable terminal islocated indoors (see step S104).

If determining that the portable terminal is located indoors (i.e.,“YES” in step S104), the image condition specifying unit 6 sets an imagecondition such that image information is displayed if locationinformation included in the image information indicates a locationwithin a circular range defined by radius A around the actual locationof the present device as the center of the circle (see step S105).

On the other hand, if determining that the portable terminal is locatedoutdoors (i.e., “NO” in step S104), the image condition specifying unit6 sets an image condition such that image information is displayed iflocation information included in the image information indicates alocation within a circular range defined by radius B (A<B) around theactual location of the present device as the center of the circle (seestep S106).

After the image condition specifying unit 6 specifies the imagecondition in step S105 or S106, the portable terminal repeatedlyexecutes the following steps S108 to S110 for respective imageinformation items stored in the image storage unit 2 (see step S107).

First, the image retrieving unit 4 retrieves image information (an imageinformation item) from the image storage unit 2, and acquires locationinformation from the retrieved image information (see step S108).

Next, the display determination unit 7 determines whether or not thelocation information obtained in step S102 by the location informationobtaining unit 3 and the location information acquired in step S108 bythe image retrieving unit 4 have a relationship that satisfies the imagecondition specified in step S105 or S106 by the image conditionspecifying unit 6 (see step S109).

That is, the display determination unit 7 determines whether or not thelocation information acquired in step S108 by the image retrieving unit4 indicates a location within a circular range defined by radius A or B(corresponding to the image condition) around the location (as thecenter of the circle) indicated by the location information obtained instep S102 by the location information obtaining unit 3.

If it is determined by the display determination unit 7 that the imagecondition is satisfied (i.e., “YES” in step S109), the displaydetermination unit 7 outputs the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4 to the display unit 8. The display unit 8 thendisplays the image information received from the display determinationunit 7 on the display (see step S110).

In contrast, if it is determined by the display determination unit 7that the image condition is not satisfied (i.e., “NO” in step S109), thedisplay unit 8 does not display the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4.

After the process from step S108 to step S110 is repeatedly executed sothat all image information items stored in the image storage unit 2 areprocessed, the portable terminal completes the relevant operation.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the imagecondition specifying unit 6 specifies the image condition based on thestatus identified by the device status identifying unit 5, and thedisplay unit 8 displays image information retrieved by the imageretrieving unit 4 if the image information satisfies the image conditionspecified by the image condition specifying unit 6. Therefore, theportable terminal can select appropriate image information to bedisplayed, from among a plurality of image information items.

In addition, the image condition in the present embodiment is such thatif location information included in image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4 indicates a location within a predeterminedrange defined based on the actual location of the present device, theimage information is displayed. Therefore, based on the statusidentified by the device status identifying unit 5, the image conditionspecifying unit 6 specifies the range for the image condition.Accordingly, the portable terminal can appropriately select imageinformation pertaining to the actual location, from among a plurality ofimage information items.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, the device status identifyingunit 5 identifies whether the present device is located outdoors orindoors. If it is identified by the device status identifying unit 5that the present device is located indoors, the image conditionspecifying unit 6 applies a narrower range to the specified imagecondition than a range that is applied when it is identified that thepresent device is located outdoors. According to such narrowing therange for the image condition when the user of the portable terminal iswithin an establishment, it is possible to exclude images which probablydo not relate to the relevant establishment. By contrast, according towidening the range for the image condition when the user of the portableterminal is located outdoors, it is possible to display a larger numberof images in comparison with a case of performing no widening.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The device status identifying unit 5 and the image condition specifyingunit 6 in the portable terminal of the second embodiment performprocesses different from those performed by the corresponding units ofthe first embodiment.

The device status identifying unit 5 of the second embodimentidentifies, as circumstantial information on the portable terminal,whether or not there are lots of obstacles around the portable terminal.

If there are lots of obstacles around the portable terminal, the imagecondition specifying unit 6 specifies an image condition such that animage of image information was obtained within a circular range of aradius C around the actual location as the center of the circle.

On the other hand, if there are less obstacles around the portableterminal, the image condition specifying unit 6 specifies an imagecondition such that an image of image information was obtained within acircular range of radius D (C<D) around the actual location as thecenter of the circle.

Below, an operation of the portable terminal in accordance with thesecond embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the second embodiment, where stepsthat perform processes identical to those in the first embodiment aregiven identical reference symbols.

When the portable terminal executes the viewer application in responseto a user's operation (see step S101), the location informationobtaining unit 3 obtains location information that indicates thelocation of the portable terminal at the current time (see step S102).Next, the device status identifying unit 5 identifies a device statusthat indicates whether or not there are lots of obstacles around theportable terminal (see step S201).

Below, a method for identifying whether or not there are lots ofobstacles around the portable terminal will be explained.

For example, the device status identifying unit 5 activates the imagingunit 1, and can identify that there are lots of obstacles around ifimage information obtained by the imaging unit 1 has a contrast greaterthan or equal to a predetermined threshold. In another example, thedevice status identifying unit 5 collects peripheral sounds via amicrophone of the portable terminal, and can identify that there arelots of obstacles around if the collected sounds include a plurality ofechoes.

In a case in which a sound or light wave transmitter and receiver isprovided in the portable terminal, the device status identifying unit 5can identify that there are lots of obstacles if a plurality of receivedsound or light wave signals are detected due to a multipath phenomenon.

The above-described methods are each an example of the method ofidentifying whether or not there are lots of obstacles, that can beidentified by any other method.

After identifying the device status by the device status identifyingunit 5 in step S201, the image condition specifying unit 6 refers to thedevice status and determines whether or not there are lots of obstaclesaround the portable terminal (see step S202).

If determining that there are lots of obstacles around the portableterminal (i.e., “YES” in step S202), the image condition specifying unit6 sets an image condition such that image information is displayed iflocation information included in the image information indicates alocation within a circular range defined by radius C around the actuallocation of the present device as the center of the circle (see stepS203).

On the other hand, if determining that there are less obstacles aroundthe portable terminal (i.e., “NO” in step S202), the image conditionspecifying unit 6 sets an image condition such that image information isdisplayed if location information included in the image informationindicates a location within a circular range defined by radius D (C<D)around the actual location of the present device as the center of thecircle (see step S204).

After the image condition specifying unit 6 specifies the imagecondition in step S203 or S204, the portable terminal repeatedlyexecutes the following steps S108 to S110 for respective imageinformation items stored in the image storage unit 2 (see step S107).

First, the image retrieving unit 4 retrieves image information (an imageinformation item) from the image storage unit 2, and acquires locationinformation from the retrieved image information (see step S108).

Next, the display determination unit 7 determines whether or not thelocation information obtained in step S102 by the location informationobtaining unit 3 and the location information acquired in step S108 bythe image retrieving unit 4 have a relationship that satisfies the imagecondition specified in step S203 or S204 by the image conditionspecifying unit 6 (see step S109).

That is, the display determination unit 7 determines whether or not thelocation information acquired in step S108 by the image retrieving unit4 indicates a location within a circular range defined by radius C or D(corresponding to the image condition) around the location (as thecenter of the circle) indicated by the location information obtained instep S102 by the location information obtaining unit 3.

If it is determined by the display determination unit 7 that the imagecondition is satisfied (i.e., “YES” in step S109), the displaydetermination unit 7 outputs the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4 to the display unit 8. The display unit 8 thendisplays the image information received from the display determinationunit 7 on the display (see step S110).

In contrast, if it is determined by the display determination unit 7that the image condition is not satisfied (i.e., “NO” in step S109), thedisplay unit 8 does not display the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4.

After the process from step S108 to step S110 is repeatedly executed sothat all image information items stored in the image storage unit 2 areprocessed, the portable terminal completes the relevant operation.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the devicestatus identifying unit 5 identifies whether or not there are lots ofobstacles around the present device, and the greater the number ofobstacles around the present device, the narrower the range specifiedfor the image condition by the image condition specifying unit 6.

According to such narrowing the range for the image condition when theportable terminal is located where there are lots of obstacles, it ispossible to exclude images which probably do not relate to a conditionthat “within a visible range”. By contrast, it is possible to displaymany images within the visible range by widening the range pertaining tothe image condition when the portable terminal is located where thereare less obstacles.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The device status identifying unit 5 and the image condition specifyingunit 6 in the portable terminal of the third embodiment performprocesses different from those performed by the corresponding units ofthe first embodiment.

The device status identifying unit 5 of the third embodiment identifies,as circumstantial information on the portable terminal, a travelingdevice and a traveling direction of a user.

FIG. 5 is a diagram that shows an image condition defined in the thirdembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the traveling device of the user is ahigh-speed traveling device such as an automobile or a train, the imagecondition specifying unit 6 sets an image condition that the imageinformation was obtained within a rectangular range defined in a mannersuch that the rectangle extends from the actual location along thetraveling direction identified by the device status identifying unit 5and that the rectangle has a length E in the traveling direction and awidth F.

On the other hand, when the traveling device of the user is a low-speedtraveling device such as foot or a train, the image condition specifyingunit 6 sets an image condition such that the image information wasobtained within a circular range defined by radius G around the actuallocation as the center of the circle.

Below, an operation of the portable terminal in accordance with thethird embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the third embodiment, where stepsthat perform processes identical to those in the first embodiment aregiven identical reference symbols.

When the portable terminal executes the viewer application in responseto a user's operation (see step S101), the location informationobtaining unit 3 obtains location information that indicates thelocation of the portable terminal at the current time (see step S102).Next, the device status identifying unit 5 identifies the travelingdevice of the user, as a device status (see step S301).

Below, a method for identifying the traveling device will be explained.

For example, the device status identifying unit 5 measures anacceleration of the portable terminal based on an acceleration sensorthereof, and can identify that the user is traveling by a high-speedtraveling device if the acceleration is greater than or equal to apredetermined threshold. In another example, the device statusidentifying unit 5 receives location information items at two differenttimes from the location information obtaining unit 3, and can identifythat the user is traveling by a high-speed traveling device if thedistance between two locations indicated by the location informationitems is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

The above-described methods are each an example of the method ofidentifying the traveling device, that can be identified by any othermethod.

After identifying the traveling device in step S301, the device statusidentifying unit 5 then identifies the traveling direction (see stepS302).

In an example of identifying the traveling direction, the device statusidentifying unit 5 receives location information items at two differenttimes from the location information obtaining unit 3, and can identifythe traveling direction based on an angle of a straight line between twolocations indicated by the location information items. In anotherexample, the device status identifying unit 5 obtains a direction byutilizing a geomagnetic sensor, and can identify the traveling directionby combining this direction with a direction toward which anacceleration sensor measures an acceleration.

The above-described methods are each an example of the method ofidentifying the traveling direction, that can be identified by any othermethod.

Next, the image condition specifying unit 6 refers to the device statusand determines whether or not the traveling device is a high-speedtraveling device (see step S303).

If determining that the traveling device is a high-speed travelingdevice (i.e., “YES” in step S303), the image condition specifying unit 6sets an image condition that image information is displayed if the imageinformation was obtained within a rectangular range defined in a mannersuch that the rectangle extends from the actual location along thetraveling direction identified by the device status identifying unit 5and that the rectangle has length E in the traveling direction and widthF (see step S304).

On the other hand, if determining that traveling device is a low-speedtraveling device (i.e., “NO” in step S303), the image conditionspecifying unit 6 sets an image condition such that image information isdisplayed if location information included in the image informationindicates a location within a circular range defined by radius G aroundthe actual location of the present device as the center of the circle(see step S305).

After the image condition specifying unit 6 specifies the imagecondition in step S304 or S305, the portable terminal repeatedlyexecutes the following steps S108 to S110 for respective imageinformation items stored in the image storage unit 2 (see step S107).

First, the image retrieving unit 4 retrieves image information (an imageinformation item) from the image storage unit 2, and acquires locationinformation from the retrieved image information (see step S108).

Next, the display determination unit 7 determines whether or not thelocation information obtained in step S102 by the location informationobtaining unit 3 and the location information acquired in step S108 bythe image retrieving unit 4 have a relationship that satisfies the imagecondition specified in step S304 or S305 by the image conditionspecifying unit 6 (see step S109).

That is, according to the image condition, the display determinationunit 7 determines whether or not the location information acquired instep S108 by the image retrieving unit 4 indicates a location (i) withina rectangular range defined in a manner such that the rectangle extendsfrom the location indicated by the location information obtained in stepS102 by the location information obtaining unit 3 along the travelingdirection identified in step S302 by the device status identifying unit5 and that the rectangle has a length E in the traveling direction and awidth F, or (ii) within a circular range defined by a radius G aroundthe location (as the center of the circle) indicated by the locationinformation obtained in step S102 by the location information obtainingunit 3.

If it is determined by the display determination unit 7 that the imagecondition is satisfied (i.e., “YES” in step S109), the displaydetermination unit 7 outputs the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4 to the display unit 8.

The display unit 8 then displays the image information received from thedisplay determination unit 7 on the display (see step S110). Incontrast, if it is determined by the display determination unit 7 thatthe image condition is not satisfied (i.e., “NO” in step S109), thedisplay unit 8 does not display the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4.

After the process from step S108 to step S110 is repeatedly executed sothat all image information items stored in the image storage unit 2 areprocessed, the portable terminal completes the relevant operation.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the devicestatus identifying unit 5 identifies the traveling device of a user. Ifthe traveling device of the user is a high-speed traveling device, theimage condition specifying unit 6 specifies the range for the imagecondition to be a predetermined rectangular range that extends from theactual location of the present device along the traveling directionidentified by the device status identifying unit 5. Accordingly, whenthe portable terminal is moving utilizing a high-speed traveling device,it is possible to exclude images which were obtained at locations whichthe portable terminal has passed through.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a general block diagram that shows the structure of a portableterminal in accordance with the fourth embodiment.

The portable terminal (i.e., an image display device or an imagegeneration device) of the fourth embodiment determines whether or notimage information is displayed, based on a device condition included inthe image information. The portable terminal has a device conditionattaching unit 9 and a device condition specifying unit 10 in place ofthe image condition specifying unit 6 of the first embodiment.

Based on a device status identified by the device status identifyingunit 5 when image information was obtained by the imaging unit 1, thedevice condition attaching unit 9 specifies a device condition that theportable terminal needs to satisfy so as to display the image condition.The device condition is stored into the image storage unit 2 in a mannersuch that the device condition is associated with the image informationobtained by the imaging unit 1. As examples of the device condition,those similar to the image conditions described in the above first tothird embodiments may be utilized.

The device condition specifying unit 10 extracts a device condition fromimage information retrieved by the image retrieving unit 4 so as tospecify the device condition for the image information.

Below, an operation of the portable terminal in accordance with thefourth embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart that shows an image obtaining operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the fourth embodiment.

The imaging unit 1 is activated when the portable terminal executes thecamera application in accordance with a user's operation. Then, when theimaging unit 1 executes an imaging process in accordance with a user'soperation (see step S401), the location information obtaining unit 3obtains location information that indicates the location of the portableterminal at the current time (see step S402).

Next, the device status identifying unit 5 identifies a device statusthat indicates the status of the portable terminal (see step S403). Asdescribed above, examples of the device condition may be conditions suchas whether indoors or outdoors described in the first embodiment,whether or not lots of obstacles described in the second embodiment, anda traveling device described in the third embodiment.

Next, the device condition attaching unit 9 specifies the devicecondition based on the device status identified by the device statusidentifying unit 5 (see step S404).

The imaging unit 1 then stores the image information obtained in stepS401 into the image storage unit 2 in a manner such that the imageinformation is associated with the location information obtained in stepS402 by the location information obtaining unit 3 and the devicecondition specified in step S404 by the device condition attaching unit9 (see step S405).

Accordingly, the image storage unit 2 stores the image information towhich the location information and the device condition are appended.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart that shows an image displaying operation of theportable terminal in accordance with the fourth embodiment, where stepsthat perform processes identical to those in the first embodiment aregiven identical reference symbols.

When the portable terminal executes the viewer application in responseto a user's operation (see step S101), the location informationobtaining unit 3 obtains location information that indicates thelocation of the portable terminal at the current time (see step S102).

Next, the portable terminal repeatedly executes the following steps S406to S110 for respective image information items stored in the imagestorage unit 2 (see step S107).

First, the image retrieving unit 4 retrieves image information (an imageinformation item) from the image storage unit 2.

Next, the device condition specifying unit 10 extracts the devicecondition from the image information retrieved by the image retrievingunit 4 (see step S406).

The image retrieving unit 4 then acquires location information from theimage information retrieved in step S107 (see step S108).

Next, the display determination unit 7 determines whether or not thelocation information obtained in step S102 by the location informationobtaining unit 3 and the location information acquired in step S108 bythe image retrieving unit 4 have a relationship that satisfies thedevice condition extracted by the device condition specifying unit 10(see step S407).

If it is determined by the display determination unit 7 that the imagecondition is satisfied (i.e., “YES” in step S407), the displaydetermination unit 7 outputs the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4 to the display unit 8. The display unit 8 thendisplays the image information received from the display determinationunit 7 on the display (see step S110).

In contrast, if it is determined by the display determination unit 7that the image condition is not satisfied (i.e., “NO” in step S407), thedisplay unit 8 does not display the image information retrieved by theimage retrieving unit 4.

After the process from step S406 to step S110 is repeatedly executed sothat all image information items stored in the image storage unit 2 areprocessed, the portable terminal completes the relevant operation.

As described above, in accordance with the present embodiment, thedevice condition attaching unit 9 attaches a device condition to therelevant image information, based on a status identified by the devicestatus identifying unit 5. If the portable terminal satisfies the devicecondition included in the image information, the display unit 8 displaysthe image information. Accordingly, the portable terminal can selectappropriate image information to be displayed, from among a plurality ofimage information items.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 10 is a general block diagram that shows the structure of aportable terminal in accordance with the fifth embodiment.

The portable terminal of the fifth embodiment includes both structuresof the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment. That is, in thedetermination for display in the fifth embodiment, image informationthat satisfies any one of the image condition specified by the imagecondition specifying unit 6 and the device condition specified by thedevice condition specifying unit 10 is output to the display unit 8.

Accordingly, the portable terminal of the fifth embodiment can displayimage information suitable for the current status of the portableterminal, or image information that is determined to be appropriate fordisplay, based on a status when the image information was obtained.

Sixth Embodiment

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

The device status identifying unit 5 and the image condition specifyingunit 6 in the portable terminal of the sixth embodiment performprocesses different from those performed by the corresponding units ofthe first embodiment.

The device status identifying unit 5 of the sixth embodiment identifies,as circumstantial information on the portable terminal, a person who ispresent around the portable terminal. In an example of the personidentification, information on a face, figure, voice, or the like isacquired by means of image information obtained by the imaging unit 1 orvoice information obtained utilizing a microphone.

The image condition specifying unit 6 specifies an image condition suchthat image information includes the person identified by device statusidentifying unit 5.

Accordingly, the portable terminal can display image informationpertaining to a current (traveling) companion of the user of theportable terminal.

While embodiments of the present invention have been explained in detailreferring to the drawings, specific structures are not limited to thosedescribed above. Various design modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the above-described embodiments may determine a range forthe image information to be a circle having a predetermined radius.However, the range is not limited to this, and may be another-shapedrange such as a rectangular range that extends in the travelingdirection as described in the third embodiment, or an ellipsoidal rangethat extends in the traveling direction.

Additionally, in the above-described embodiments, when the imagecondition is satisfied, the image information is always displayed.However, this is not an absolute condition. In another example ofcontrol, the image information is not displayed when the travelingdevice is a high-speed traveling device.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the portable terminaldisplays image information stored in the image storage unit 2 built inthe portable terminal. However, this is not an absolute condition, andthe image retrieving unit 4 may acquire image information from anexternal server apparatus connected via a network, a communicationapparatus connected by means of short-distance communication, or thelike.

Furthermore, in the above-described fourth embodiment, the devicecondition attaching unit 9 attaches a device condition to imageinformation, and the device condition specifying unit 10 retrieves thedevice condition. However, this is not an absolute condition. In anotherexample, the device status identifying unit 5 may attach a identifieddevice status, and the device condition specifying unit 10 may specify adevice condition based on the device status included in the imageinformation.

The above-described portable terminal includes a computer system. Theoperation of each unit is stored as a program in a computer-readablestorage medium, and the operation is performed when the relevantcomputer loads and executes the program.

The above computer readable storage medium is a magnetic disk, magnetooptical disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, semiconductor memory, or the like.

In addition, the relevant computer program may be provided to a computervia a communication line, and the computer which received the programmay execute the program.

In addition, the program may execute a part of the above-explainedfunctions.

Furthermore, the program may be a so-called “differential file”(“differential program”) by which the above-described functions can beexecuted by a combination of this program and an existing program whichhas already been stored in the relevant computer system.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In accordance with the present invention, in a relationship between animage display device and image information, the image display devicedisplays the image information if a device condition specified inaccordance with a current status of the present device or an imagecondition included in the image information is satisfied. Accordingly,the image display device can select appropriate image information to bedisplayed, from among a plurality of image information items.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 imaging unit-   2 image storage unit-   3 location information obtaining unit-   4 image retrieving unit-   5 device status identifying unit-   6 image condition specifying unit-   7 display determination unit-   8 display unit-   9 device condition attaching unit-   10 device condition specifying unit

The invention claimed is:
 1. An image display device that displays imageinformation, the device comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled tothe computer processor; wherein the memory stores instructionsconfigured to cause the processor to: retrieve image information;identify a status of the present device; specify an image condition thatindicates a condition which the image information needs to satisfy to bedisplayed, based on the identified status of the present device; displaythe retrieved image information if the image information satisfies theimage condition; and obtain image information that includes locationinformation; wherein the image condition is a condition such that theimage information is displayed if the location information included inthe retrieved image information indicates a location within apredetermined range based on an actual location of the present device;wherein identifying a status of the present device includes identifyingone of: whether or not the present device is located outdoors orindoors; how many obstacles are there around the present device; and atraveling direction of the present device; and if it is determined thatthe present device is located indoors, specifying the range for theimage condition to be a narrower range than that specified when it isidentified that the present device is located outdoors; if it isidentified how many obstacles are there around the present device, themore the obstacles around the present device, the narrower the range forthe image condition, that is specified; and if it is identified thetraveling direction of the present device, specifying the range for theimage condition to be a predetermined rectangular range that extendsfrom the actual location of the present device along the travelingdirection.
 2. The image display device in accordance with claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to: specify a devicecondition that indicates a condition which the present device needs tosatisfy to display the image information, based on the imageinformation; and display the image information if the status of thepresent device satisfies the specified device condition.
 3. An imagedisplay method utilizing an image display device that displays imageinformation, comprising: retrieving image information; identifying astatus of the present device; specifying an image condition thatindicates a condition which the image information needs to satisfy to bedisplayed, based on the identified status of the present device;displaying the retrieved image information if the image informationsatisfies the image condition; and obtaining image information thatincludes location information; wherein the image condition is acondition such that the image information is displayed if the locationinformation included in the retrieved image information indicates alocation within a predetermined range based on an actual location of thepresent device; wherein identifying a status of the present deviceincludes identifying one of: whether or not the present device islocated outdoors or indoors; how many obstacles are there around thepresent device; and a traveling direction of the present device; and ifit is determined that the present device is located indoors, specifyingthe range for the image condition to be a narrower range than thatspecified when it is identified that the present device is locatedoutdoors; if it is identified how many obstacles are there around thepresent device, the more the obstacles around the present device, thenarrower the range for the image condition, that is specified; and if itis identified the traveling direction of the present device, specifyingthe range for the image condition to be a predetermined rectangularrange that extends from the actual location of the present device alongthe traveling direction.
 4. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium that stores a program that causes an image display device thatdisplays image information to: retrieve image information; identify astatus of the present device; specify an image condition that indicatesa condition which the image information needs to satisfy to bedisplayed, based on the identified status of the present device; displaythe retrieved image information if the image information satisfies theimage condition; and obtain image information that includes locationinformation; wherein the image condition is a condition such that theimage information is displayed if the location information included inthe retrieved image information indicates a location within apredetermined range based on an actual location of the present device;wherein identify a status of the present device includes identifying oneof: whether or not the present device is located outdoors or indoors;how many obstacles are there around the present device; and a travelingdirection of the present device; and if it is determined that thepresent device is located indoors, specify the range for the imagecondition to be a narrower range than that specified when it isidentified that the present device is located outdoors; if it isidentified how many obstacles are there around the present device, themore the obstacles around the present device, the narrower the range forthe image condition, that is specified; and if it is identified thetraveling direction of the present device, specifying the range for theimage condition to be a predetermined rectangular range that extendsfrom the actual location of the present device along the travelingdirection.